Recorded as Nutt, Nott, and Notte, as well as diminutives Nutten, Nuttin, Nutkins, Nutting, Nottey, Nuttey, Nutty and possibly others, this is a surname of English and occasionally Scottish, origins of which it has at least two. The first is an occupational name for a farmer or merchant of nuts. This is from the pre 7th century Olde English word 'cnut' and the later 12th century note or nut . 'Nuts' formed a significant and vital role in the winter diet of the ancient peoples, and large areas of woodland were intensively farmed to provide these essential fruits. The second possibility is that the name was given as a nickname to a 'hard man' - one as tough as a nut. The name was also that of the Viking King of England the famous Canute, or more correctly spelt Cnut. Amongst the early recordings was that of Adam Notekyn of Essex in the Hundred Rolls of that county in 1273, and Hugh le Notte of Buckinghamshire in the same year. John Nutkins, a miller, was also recorded in Essex in the year 1666, whilst Matthew Nuttey married one Ann Pullen at St Mary Abchurch, in the city of London, on July 19th 1738. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Nutte which was dated 1181 The Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire during the reign of King Henry 11, known as 'The church builder', 1154 - 1189 Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.